[Aztlan] orientations of churches

[Ivan Sprajc]

In his study of colonial urban layout of Cholula, George Kubler (1967, in
Estudios de Cultura Novohispana 2: 111-127) mentions that the Franciscan
church of San Gabriel is oriented to true east, while other churches may
have followed the orientations of underlying prehispanic structures. Also
Franz Tichy (1981, in E. P. Benson, ed., Mesoamerican Sites and World-Views,
Washington: Dumbarton Oaks, pp. 217-245; 1991, Die geordnete Welt
indianischer Völker, Stuttgart: F. Steiner) and Karl-Ludwig Storck (1980, in
Lateinamerika-Studien 6: 139-163), who studied early colonial church
orientations in central Mexico and Oaxaca in a more systematic way, suggest
that many churches adopted the most common orientations incorporated in
prehispanic architecture and cultural landscape. This general idea seems to
be supported by their histograms showing the distribution of azimuths of
churches' orientations, even if their measurements were based largely on
maps and the results are, therefore, not sufficiently precise to support
their hypotheses about the prehispanic orientation principles. To explain
the orientations of individual churches, further systematic studies should
be undertaken, based on precise measurements and considering archaeological
and historical evidence in every particular case. The results could
obviously reveal many interesting details about colonial ecclesiastical
practices and the continuity of sacred places, but would also have important
implications for understanding prehispanic orientation rules.

W/ best wishes,

Ivan Šprajc
Institute of Anthropological and Spatial Studies
Scientific Research Center of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts
1000 Ljubljana
Slovenia
http://iaps.zrc-sazu.si/index.php?q=en/node/39


Message: 1
Date: Sat, 6 Jun 2009 12:17:49 -0500
From: "Diehl, Richard" <rdiehl at as.ua.edu>
Subject: [Aztlan] request for help
To: "aztlan at lists.famsi.org" <aztlan at lists.famsi.org>
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	<B377FA740A68F2448A26806A414757E32EA4A4B7 at MAIL1.ua-net.ua.edu>
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Dear Listeros,

I recently received a query from a friend and former colleague named Robert
Benfer (Professor Emeritus of Anthropology, University of Missouri-Columbia)
that I cannot deal with properly. Perhaps some of you can help. Bob spends a
considerable amount of time in San Cristobal (now DON Cristobal?) de las
Casas, Chiapas and has noted that while Colonial churches in the region are
generally oriented east-west, Indian Colonial churches or their convents to
the solstices or crossing days. He asked me if I know anything about this or
know anyone who does. The answer to both is no but perhaps some of you can
help. If so, please contact him off-line at bob.benfer at gmail.com. We both
appreciate your help and thank you in advance.

Saludos, 

Dick Diehl